Fire in motor yacht off Lefkada – three occupants safe

A fire broke out around 14:20 on the afternoon of Thursday 10 September 2026 in a motor yacht flying an Italian flag, off the coast of Ammoglossa, near the entrance to the northern channel of Lefkada, in the Ionian Sea. According to the Fire Service Operations Centre, as reported by Naftemporiki, all three occupants of the vessel, foreign nationals, managed to disembark safely and were transported to shore. No injuries were reported, and for reasons of protecting their privacy, further details about their identity have not been disclosed, such as their nationality or age. The incident was noticed in the afternoon, in an area where traffic of pleasure boats remains frequent at this time of year.

Forces from the Coast Guard and Fire Service were mobilized immediately to deal with the incident. According to reports by Naftemporiki, citing the two services, a Coast Guard patrol vessel rushed to the scene, while assistance was also provided by a fishing boat that was in the area at the time of the incident. In parallel, a fire-fighting vessel arrived, which took over firefighting operations from the sea. On land, six firefighters with two vehicles conducted operations, according to the Fire Service Operations Centre. The operation initially focused on the removal and rescue of the occupants, who, as the authorities reported, were found to be out of danger before the fire was able to spread further. The coordination between the sea and land elements of the operation, according to Naftemporiki, was decisive for the safe disembarkation of all three people.

The northern channel of Lefkada is one of the busiest passages in the Ionian Sea, as it connects the island with the mainland coast and serves daily the transit of pleasure boats, fishing vessels and tourist boats, especially during months when traffic remains high due to tourism. A fire incident in a vessel near the entrance to the channel, such as the one at Ammoglossa, puts local authorities on alert due to the dense maritime traffic and proximity to points where other pleasure boats are moored. The immediate mobilization of both the Coast Guard and Fire Service reflects the protocol followed in similar incidents in the narrow waters around the island. More on developments in the shipping sector can be found in the /ellada/shipping/ section, while all news coverage from across the country is monitored in the national edition /ellada/.

The cause of the fire has not yet been announced by the competent authorities and no estimates are currently being made about it. There is also no official information about the extent of the damage to the vessel, and the name or owner of the motor yacht have not been disclosed. Whether the fire has been brought under full control has not been officially clarified, nor has the possibility of environmental impact from any fuel leakage in the marine area. The Coast Guard and Fire Service are expected to continue investigations at the scene in the coming hours, with Naftemporiki noting that further information will be added as soon as it becomes available from the competent services. Until then, the only certainty, according to the authorities, is that all three occupants came out of the incident safely.